Dorothy Simpson Krause
Album
Album 6” x 8”
Box 10.5” x 11”
$750
Alma Blydenburg whose name appears on the front cover, and who was the owner of this autograph album, was born in 1811 in Smithtown, Suffolk, New York. She was 21 when she began keeping the album in 1832. At about the same time she married Richard Smith and is frequently addressed as Mrs. Smith within the book. She died in 1883 at the age of 52.
The beautiful calligraphy of the autographs in this fragile 150 year old book has been paired with the illustrations by Charles Dana Gibson whose “Gibson Girls” personify a characteristically American feminine ideal that is both down to earth and elegant. The pigment printed images were transferred with alcohol gel onto the album pages. The book block was rebound with the original covers, new spine and new end papers.
A custom box holds a cross stitched ribbon found in the album, a pair of white gloves and a handkerchief with the initial “B”; items that might have belonged to Alma. The box is covered in black book cloth with a pewter “Gibson Girl” head on the cover and a ribbon tie.
It is hoped that this altered album and accompanying items capture the spirit of the era.